Having just finished Mass Effect 2 recently, I can safely say it was one of the best RPG games I have ever played ( and I did go through BG, Diablo, Neverwinter, KOTOR, Risen etc. ).

While the inventory system is simplified, that is not necessary a bad thing, though I did find annoying I could only get another set of armor for any of companions. Still I can understand Bioware wanted to give each of your companions a unique look that made them stand out, and I find that a great thing.

As for story, saying that it's epic and deep would not even begin to do it justice. Its the only RPG game where, in some cases, I could not bring myself to do anything but be the good guy ( especially in the case of a certain squad member's quest ).

When you lead your people in the final battle, and see some of them die ( as happened to me when I just wanted to see what could happen ) it hits you, and if the squad member that dies is your romance option it hits you hard ( knowing that they died because of your decisions ). When you complete it with no one dying it feels like a great sense of accomplishment ( even more so on insanity )

So ye, pretty epic game. Definitely a great RPG, perhaps even game of 2010.

I played through ME1 and loved it. Then something went screwy with my 360's hard disk and I lost my fecking save, so currently in the middle of another playthrough so I can have a completed save for ME2. (Yes, I know you can start fresh, but feck that, this is a feature I've wanted in an RPG since forever! Plus I'm gonna have to wait a couple of weeks until I can get ME2.)

The second playthrough of ME1 is reminding me of all the things I hated about the first playthrough: the massive amount of dialogue required before you can do anything, the horrendous vehicle sections, and the entirely resource-based healing mechanic (would it have killed em to have a biotic healing spell?).

I'm hoping ME2 fixes some of these gripes at least. Or failing that gives me an Alcor buddy. Or lets me play as an Alcor. An Alcor actor. An Alcor actor doing Hamlet.

I have to say as a game in the same position as ME1 (a Bioware RPG designed to introduce an entirely new setting), I found Dragon Age a lot more satisfying. It just felt tighter and a lot more engaging. Of course the lack of vehicle sections probably helped.

ulushnar wrote:I played through ME1 and loved it. Then something went screwy with my 360's hard disk and I lost my fecking save, so currently in the middle of another playthrough so I can have a completed save for ME2. (Yes, I know you can start fresh, but feck that, this is a feature I've wanted in an RPG since forever! Plus I'm gonna have to wait a couple of weeks until I can get ME2.)

The second playthrough of ME1 is reminding me of all the things I hated about the first playthrough: the massive amount of dialogue required before you can do anything, the horrendous vehicle sections, and the entirely resource-based healing mechanic (would it have killed em to have a biotic healing spell?).

I'm hoping ME2 fixes some of these gripes at least. Or failing that gives me an Alcor buddy. Or lets me play as an Alcor. An Alcor actor. An Alcor actor doing Hamlet.

You might not actually have to play through ME1 again. In an effort to make space on that anemic 360 HDD I intended to delete the DLC from ME1 but deleted ALL the files my gf and I had on there relating to ME1 including all our saves. She played through it again (she already had 4 complete saves, what's 1 more?) but I was only about halfway through mine when ME2 came out. Fired up the game and it found my completed game despite the fact that I had deleted the file long ago. I don't know where it determines your previous play through but its not only by the save file, maybe achievements?

The vehicle sections are gone. The healing mechanic is more like most modern shooters, as you get hit your screen starts to turn red and you recover health and shields as you are in cover. In fact the combat in general is much more similar to other shooters than to the combat from ME1. There still is a lot of dialogue but its a Bioware RPG, you're not gonna get away from that.

ulushnar wrote:I played through ME1 and loved it. Then something went screwy with my 360's hard disk and I lost my fecking save, so currently in the middle of another playthrough so I can have a completed save for ME2. (Yes, I know you can start fresh, but feck that, this is a feature I've wanted in an RPG since forever! Plus I'm gonna have to wait a couple of weeks until I can get ME2.)

The second playthrough of ME1 is reminding me of all the things I hated about the first playthrough: the massive amount of dialogue required before you can do anything, the horrendous vehicle sections, and the entirely resource-based healing mechanic (would it have killed em to have a biotic healing spell?).

I'm hoping ME2 fixes some of these gripes at least. Or failing that gives me an Alcor buddy. Or lets me play as an Alcor. An Alcor actor. An Alcor actor doing Hamlet.

You might not actually have to play through ME1 again. In an effort to make space on that anemic 360 HDD I intended to delete the DLC from ME1 but deleted ALL the files my gf and I had on there relating to ME1 including all our saves. She played through it again (she already had 4 complete saves, what's 1 more?) but I was only about halfway through mine when ME2 came out. Fired up the game and it found my completed game despite the fact that I had deleted the file long ago. I don't know where it determines your previous play through but its not only by the save file, maybe achievements?

The vehicle sections are gone. The healing mechanic is more like most modern shooters, as you get hit your screen starts to turn red and you recover health and shields as you are in cover. In fact the combat in general is much more similar to other shooters than to the combat from ME1. There still is a lot of dialogue but its a Bioware RPG, you're not gonna get away from that.

As for the elcor... disappointed reponse...

Weary sigh... Ah well, playing through the game again is something to do whilst I wait for payday to grab the sequel. Still I'll be happier to be reunited with my lesbian Vanguard than I will playing my rather generic Sentinel (the most advanced of my surviving saves, and I wanted one because I hate the voice actor playing Kadien most of all. Carth Onasi diediedie!)

For those playing on the PC, if for whatever reason you don't have your saves from ME1, there's a site someone made that offers a wide choice of save files with most variations of choices made in ME1 to start with.

ulushnar wrote:Yeah, I saw the link on Penny Arcade, it's almost making me consider getting the PC version of ME1 and ME2. But goddammit, I've got my achieves on the Xbox and I'll damned well keep playing on it.

The achievements don't carry any weight from ME1 to ME2. Only that cash achievement which merely gives you some bonus credits and resources.

ulushnar wrote:Yeah, I saw the link on Penny Arcade, it's almost making me consider getting the PC version of ME1 and ME2. But goddammit, I've got my achieves on the Xbox and I'll damned well keep playing on it.

The achievements don't carry any weight from ME1 to ME2. Only that cash achievement which merely gives you some bonus credits and resources.

Funnily enough, that's one I have...

Still I like the social aspect of them, checking in with how my mates are playing and what plots points I can safely discuss with the.

Best line ever. I'll never forget this voice as long as I live. My son was watching an episode of Clone Wars months ago and I nearly bowled my wife over while running into the living room screaming "It's Minsc!" I'm not sure what episode or who exactly the guy was playing, but I recognized that voice from across the house.

Best line ever. I'll never forget this voice as long as I live. My son was watching an episode of Clone Wars months ago and I nearly bowled my wife over while running into the living room screaming "It's Minsc!" I'm not sure what episode or who exactly the guy was playing, but I recognized that voice from across the house.

Hell, my wife says that from time to time still... and she only played the game for a little bit.

Old grognard that I am though, hearing these things called RPGs really does crack me up as they aren't. Not really.

Flight to Peru: £1000Camping gear: £200Native guide: £50Sledgehammer to break down stone door: £12.99Awakening one of the Great Old Ones: priceless.

There are some things man was not meant to know. For everything else,there's Mastercard.